Air Dam material (Non-Locost)

[sen2two]

I'm looking for a relatively inexpensive and easy to work with material to use as an air dam on my car. Something that I can easily trace and cut out from my cardboard template and rivet in place. I was thinking maybe very thin sheet of carbon fiber, Delrin or other similar type plastic sheet, even some very thin 26 gauge galvanized steel that I found at Home Depot. Any thoughts?

Also something to create the lower portion as well. I was thinking some of that corrugated alumilite stuff.

this car is Street driven, so cost is an issue. In case I have to periodically replace it. Which is inevitable really.

[Warren Nethercote]

Plywood. After you paint it, who will know?

[BHRmotorsport]

Depending on where you live you may or may not be familiar with crazy carpets. Crazy carpets are sheets of strong flexible plastic that are used as sleds. They're cheap to buy. As an example;

https://www.sportchek.ca/product/pelica ... 6364.html#

It is a very useful chunk of plastic and they come in various colors. They're strong enough and stiff enough to stand up to some force if cut into shape and used as an air dam but are also flexible and would return to shape if hit (a few times anyway). I've used pieces to block off radiators and cowl intakes in the winter, to repair fenders on an atv, to make really simple but not bad looking fender flares on an ice racer as well as other things. I think you'd like the material for your project.

Good luck, Bill

[sen2two]

i just realized i never posted the pics for reference. Work in process, but you get the idea.

[sen2two]

Depending on where you live you may or may not be familiar with crazy carpets. Crazy carpets are sheets of strong flexible plastic that are used as sleds. They're cheap to buy. As an example;

https://www.sportchek.ca/product/pelica ... 6364.html#

It is a very useful chunk of plastic and they come in various colors. They're strong enough and stiff enough to stand up to some force if cut into shape and used as an air dam but are also flexible and would return to shape if hit (a few times anyway). I've used pieces to block off radiators and cowl intakes in the winter, to repair fenders on an atv, to make really simple but not bad looking fender flares on an ice racer as well as other things. I think you'd like the material for your project.

Good luck, Bill

I live in Florida, i barely know what this "snow" is you talk about...

Do you know the dimensions of the sled? I need it to be at least 47.5" long and 12" width. That would make one half of the air dam (cardboard section).

Also, it's weight compared to normal plastic or thin .030" aluminum?

[sen2two]

Plywood. After you paint it, who will know?

Plywood would work for the bottom portion, as I have used it before to make a splitter. but not for the front air dam portion. I don't think any wood would contour to the body well enough.

[BHRmotorsport]

The pieces that I have in my garage are all just under 18" wide. Crazy carpets can be anywhere from 48" to 60" long, some even longer. Weight is negligible, I'm guessing similar to 18 gauge aluminum sheet.

If you want someone to buy you a couple of them and mail them to you send me a PM with details. Or source them online.

Looking at your pictures I think this would be ideal material for your project...cheap, stiff yet flexible, easy to work with and comes in red and the surface is shiny when they're new.

Bill

[sen2two]

I tried searching to see what the "Crazy Carpet" stuff is made from, but i didn't find an answer. I wasn't able to find a large sheet of it either.

Do you know what type of plastic it actually is? UHMW? Teflon? Delrin?

[ngpmike]

Found a site on Amazon that lists it as High-Density Polyethylene.

https://www.amazon.com/Toboggan-Outdoor-Classic-Flexible-Foldable/dp/B07MYSHN4K?psc=1&SubscriptionId=AKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q&tag=duckduckgo-ffnt-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B07MYSHN4K

[benny_toe]

Strange but the price difference is off kelter. Canadian prices are usually higher especially when considering the exchange rate. That said Sport Check has them for $2.88CAN.

[fordo]

Have you considered "dirt tracker plastic " ?
Speedway Motors sells 24" wide cut to length....My local race car supplier buys it in sheets. cuts to size...I think it is pvc , generally .100 to .125 " thick .
Very easy to work , but not sure how much support you are planning .
BW

[TRX]

+1. And the dirt track stuff is darned near indestructible.

[sen2two]

Thanks! The "Dirt Track Plastic" looks to be Polyethylene as well. Most likely the exact same stuff as the Crazy Carpet.

The price is decent too. I believe this will work for me.

[ChanoquinII]

I am using a small offcut of signage material as a visor for my dash
In Mexico is called Trovicel.
Pretty cheap so if it gets damaged, easy to repair or replace.